Corey Harrison of the “Pawn Stars” fame lost 192 pounds and got a new lease on his life after he made the fateful decision to undergo gastric banding surgery.

The 31-year-old took the life-changing step after his physician prescribed preventive-diabetes medicine.

“Back then, the surgery was too expensive for my bank account, so I had to pay with four credit cards, but it was something I had to do — I was not going to get diabetes!” Harrison told PEOPLE magazine.

Unlike Harrison, you do not have to wait till the dreaded-diabetes warning or pay an arm and a leg for lap band in your home country. You can get your lap band in India—for less than half the price.

Lap Band – Overview

For laparoscopic gastric banding the surgeon makes small holes in the belly, through which the surgical instruments, the lap band, and a small camera are passed.

An adjustable silicone band is then placed over the top portion of the stomach, dividing it into a small pouch on the top and a bigger pouch on the lower side.

The small pouch serves as the new stomach—with a reduced capacity of holding food that results in quick satiation even after small meals and consequent weight-loss.

A plastic tube placed just under the skin serves as the port to inject saline in the band to make it tighter when required.

There is no permanent alteration of the digestive system in gastric banding; it is a reversible weight-loss surgery and one can have the band removed anytime.

Cost of Gastric Banding in India

Gastric banding in India costs around $6,500 - $7,500 and this includes: